Miscellaneous

Most of us have probably heard the news about the ICE raids in Postville and, apparently, Waterloo. I haven’t seen any media coverage concerning any raids actually in Waterloo, but my sources tell me that one is taking place there, as well.

I looked through a little bit of the warrant application posted here and here. From what I’ve read, it looks like the warrant is ironclad. I know an attorney who was summoned to a meeting in Cedar Rapids for attorneys taking CJA appointments, where he was told that the federal court wanted each attorney to represent ten different people taken into custody in the same raid. He was ranting about conflicts of interest and the propriety of taking the action the Court and US Attorneys were proposing. I can’t say I disagree.

What I really want to write about, though, is the holding facility. I grew up on a farm South of Waterloo and the National Cattle Congress Grounds have been home to the annual Black Hawk County 4-H and FFA Fair since before I was born. Every summer after I entered 3rd or 4th grade, I spent a week in Late July running around that place, showing animals in livestock competitions, watching others do the same, participating in water fights, attempting to woo young ladies (usually unsuccessfully), participating in the hay stacking contest and rope pull contests (and winning our fair share of those), etc.

It was always something to look forward to. Not because I was really successful with my projects, but because I was with friends for a whole week in one place. We were all bound to be there to take care of our own animals and other projects and to watch each other compete. If I hadn’t been bound to be there, I still would have spent my time there. It was just that fun.

Now, I suppose McElroy Auditorium, the Pepsi Pavilion, Barger Hall, Estel Hall and maybe even the livestock barns, are the temporary home for, by some reports, 600-700 immigrants taken into custody in Postville and Waterloo. I’m not sure if the place will ever be the same for me. It was the Fair. You couldn’t separate the two. Now it will be known as the ICE headquarters for the largest raid in Iowa (at least until the next one takes place).

I understand that many of the people who will spend time there over the next couple of weeks have violated federal immigration laws. I understand that they could be found guilty of a crime and sent to jail and, in the end, deported. But the Cattle Congress Grounds, which were a source of such joy and hope and fun will be seen by these people as a prison. A place where their hopes and dreams for a prosperous future were dashed. It makes me sad.

What luck that I was born in the United States. I always think about that when I read or hear about stories like today’s. Sometimes I wonder if I really am that lucky. But then I remember my parents, the rest of my family, my friends and all the opportunities that I’ve had simply because I was born on this part of this great big piece of land, rather than a few thousand miles South of here. Is that really fair?